Chapter 10 - THE REAL REASON RONAN CHOSE HER
Ronan couldn't speak.
Mirabelle turned toward him.
"You knew."
"No."
"You knew my father wanted us together."
"I knew nothing."
"Then why did you call me your future wife?"
"Because I needed to protect you."
"Or because you were following his plan?"
Ronan stepped closer.
"I never wanted you because of your father."
"Then why?"
He looked at her.
"Because I fell in love with you."
Mirabelle's anger faltered.
"When?"
"Years ago."
"How?"
"The first time I saw you."
She frowned.
"You saw me before the diner?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"You were seventeen."
She stared.
Ronan immediately added:
"Nothing happened. I never approached you."
He looked ashamed.
"I saw you standing outside a hospital with Kellen after your mother died."
Mirabelle remembered.
She had been exhausted.
Alone.
Holding Kellen's hand.
"I saw you crying," Ronan said.
"And?"
"You stopped when Kellen looked at you."
Mirabelle's eyes filled.
"You smiled for him."
Ronan's voice softened.
"That was the strongest thing I'd ever seen."
She looked away.
"That's not love."
"Maybe not then."
He stepped closer.
"But I never forgot you."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Mirabelle whispered:
"Where is my mother?"
Ronan's expression changed.
"We found a location."
"Where?"
"An island off the Carolina coast."
"Let's go."
They flew that night.
The house stood alone on a cliff.
Mirabelle knocked.
No one answered.
Ronan forced the door.
Inside were photographs.
Mirabelle as a child.
Kellen as a baby.
Her mother had watched them all these years.
Then they found a bedroom.
A woman sat beside the window.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Alive.
Mirabelle stopped.
"Mom?"
The woman turned.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"My baby."
Mirabelle ran into her arms.
They cried together.
But then her mother whispered:
"You shouldn't have come."
"Why?"
"Because Victor isn't the one hunting you."
Mirabelle pulled back.
"Then who is?"
Her mother looked toward Ronan.
"He is."
Ronan froze.
Mirabelle turned.
May you like
Her mother pointed at him.
"Ronan Voss is the reason your father disappeared."
